THE POWER OF PURSE LUNCHEON SPOTLIGHTS THE PHILANTHROPY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN DESPITE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

For Immediate Release



THE POWER OF PURSE LUNCHEON SPOTLIGHTS THE PHILANTHROPY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN DESPITE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade Convenes Community and Business Leaders Committed to Improving the Lives of Women and Girls



(Miami, FL) May 12, 2009 — The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade's (WFMD) 13th Annual Luncheon held on Friday, April 24, 2009 was a testament to the power of philanthropy among women in South Florida in the face of the global economic crisis. Business leaders, elected officials, and philanthropists came together to support Women’s Fund and celebrate the “Power of the Purse: Part III”.



Attendees heard success stories from recipients of Women’s Fund grants, bid on designer purses in a silent auction of over 90 bags from Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Calvin Klein, Givenchy and others. The Women's Fund’s new Chief Executive Officer Debi M. Harris issued a challenge to act locally and engage in the Miami community by investing in women.



“We know that when a woman has economic security, her family has economic security and her life, the life of her children and her financial situation is greatly improved, empowering her,” said Harris, “In the coming months, you will see Women’s Fund take on a louder and stronger voice in this community to ensure economic security for our women and girls.”



The luncheon featured presentations from women whose lives have been positively changed by programs started with funding from Women’s Fund. Rachel Johnson of Casa Valentina, among others, shared how their lives have been dramatically improved because of support they received from community programs fostered by grants from Women’s Fund.



Rachel Johnson, who lived in twenty-two foster homes by her eighteenth birthday, told luncheon guests how she has been empowered by Women’s Fund grantee partner Casa Valentina. “They helped me with school, work, saving money, working through personal issues, and planning for the future,” said Johnson.



This year’s major sponsors included: Mentor Sponsor, Baptist Health South Florida and Advocate Sponsors, Florida Power and Light, Macy’s, Carlo & Micol Schejola Foundation, and The Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation.



Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Women’s Fund’s grant making, advocacy and community-building efforts addressing unmet needs of women and girls in Miami-Dade County. Photos are available by email or on the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade at www.womensfundmiami.org. Please contact Beth Degi, beth@womensfundmiami.org for more information.



Women's Fund of Miami-Dade was founded in 1993 to fill the enormous funding gap that exists for programs addressing the unmet needs of women and girls. Since then, the Women’s Fund has supported, through money raised from local donors, over 350 local projects. Women's Fund’s grantmaking, advocacy and assistance to innovative gender-specific projects in Miami are creating social change that will have a lasting impact on the entire community. It is investing nearly $400,000 in grants to local projects this year. For more information, please visit www.womensfundimami.org.



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